BMW

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BMW • Airbags • "Certified, pre-owned" BMWs • Cooling fan failure • Flaming seats • Flooded trunk • Paint problems • Steering failure • Transmission problems • Warranties • BMW Financial Services • Miscellaneous problems • 740 Series • 740 cell phones --- News • BMW Owners Suffer Reversal of Fortune • BMW Plans Price Hike • Transmission Failures Plague BMW Owners • New BMW to Burn Hydrogen and Gasoline • Gay Automotive Website Takes on BMW

Big Money Wasted? We think that's going a little far. The BMW is a great car -- if you like high-strung racing cars in street garb. Unfortunately, lots of everyday consumers buy these things thinking that because they're expensive, they must be reliable and trouble-free, which is about as far from the truth as Stuttgart is from Santa Monica.

All cars require maintenance and high-performance cars require lots and lots of very expensive routine maintenance. Also they're notorious for being afflicted with all kinds of exotic problems. If you're really into cars, understand them and are willing to lavish time, money and attention on one, the BMW may be for you. If you're looking to raise your self-esteem by buying something really expensive, we recommend real estate.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

Spencer of Chicago, IL September 29, 2009

I bought a 2000 BMW 323ci six months ago. Two weeks ago I went to reverse out of my parking spot and thought I had mistakenly put the car in nuetral. As it turns out, the reverse function wasn't responding. Upon taking it into my mechanic, he informed me that the transmission would need to be replaced. The car only has 94,000 miles on it and he says BMW is the only car that has transmission problems with low miles. According to him it is because BMW decided to save money and began using an inferior GM transmission for a couple years. If you are considering buying a used BMW, do your homework. I've now read hundreds of similar incidents and have also heard rumblings of a class action suit filed against BMW because the problem is now so widespread.

Eduardo of burbank , CA September 28, 2009

I have made my payments on time for 3 years and due the economy crashing I am unemployed and had to request payment arrangement with bmw finacial services. I was dealing with rob stuart who was accepting my payments and working with me. on Sept 13 i got a call from kelly frank, i returned her call but wasnt available. this went on for 3 day. on the 16th i spoke to rob and said I would have the payment in by monday the 21st. he said that should be fine and that he would note my account.

I asked him to connect me with kelly\'s voice mail for she wasnt available as usual. I left her a message as well letting her know that ill have a payment in by monday. Haveing never spoken to her a few hours later there is a knock at my door, and my car was repossesed. I feel that bmw\'s reps have misslead me and now are charging outragious cost for repossesion fee along with delaying the process of renstating my account inorder to have me pay the toe yard sorage fees.

late fee and penaties charges of over 200. repossesion fees of 425 plus storge fees of over 400, all this becuase I was mislead and lied to to by bmw reps that a payment would be acepted on the 21st of sept. it is just unbelievable the treatment i have recieved from these people especially in these hard economical times

Eduardo of burbank, CA September 28, 2009

I have made my payments on time for 3 years and due the economy crashing I am unemployed and had to request payment arrangement with bmw finacial services. I was dealing with rob who was accepting my payments and working with me. on Sept 13 i got a call from kelly, i returned her call but wasnt available. this went on for 3 day. on the 16th i spoke to rob and said I would have the payment in by monday the 21st. he said that should be fine and that he would note my account. I asked him to connect me with kelly's voice mail for she wasnt available as usual. I left her a message as well letting her know that ill have a payment in by monday. Haveing never spoken to her a few hours later there is a knock at my door, and my car was repossesed. I feel that bmw's reps have misslead me and now are charging outragious cost for repossesion fee along with delaying the process of renstating my account inorder to have me pay the toe yard sorage fees.

Riad of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Erimates September 28, 2009

Plz. note that I own a BMW X5 4.8i, 2009 model, purchased in 10/2008. In 08/2009, the A/C in this SAV stopped working. I took it to the BMW Service Center in Abu Dhabi, where they kept it for 4-days before returning it to me. No sooner than I took it home, the A/C completely stopped functioning again. I need the car as it is a busy time for me, but I am extremely disappointed that BMW does not take care of its customers. When I asked the Service Specialist, he told me that they just filled in the A/C gas & did nothing more. This is totally unexecptable. I paid over 100,000 for this vehicle & am utterly unhappy with this situation.

If I wanted to get KIA or Hyundai like service I would have bought a KIA or a Hyundai. Now I have to take the vehicle into the service center, AGAIN, in Abu Dhabi & will have to rent a car for the duration of the repair, losing time & money needlessly, only of BMW would have been responsible enough as to fix the car properly the first time I took it in to them.

For the last 2 days (Sep. 27 & 28), I have been trying to contact Mr. Hassam, the Service Manager at BMW Service, but he does not answer his phone & when I ask the telephone attendant for his no she says that she can not give it. What is the need for such secrecy? I would implore [them] to transmit my complaint to senior management. I am extremely disappointed with BMW. This is my 2nd BMW, my older car was a 1999, 328i. Now I will NEVER more buy another BMW.

Dipesh of yoraba linda, CA September 27, 2009

I am an owner of BMW 2007 328i, purchased brand new in Nov 2007. Approximately after 10000 miles the engine started making noise. I took to the dealership and they fixed it. From there on, I am visiting dealership every few months for one problem on another and so far car has only 20K miles and it has been to dealership almost 8-9 times for various problems. I had my front brakes fixed after 10K miles, thank lord that BMW includes maintenence now, so they did it for free. After 4-5K miles I had to again change rear brake pads and rotors. Dealership was helpful in providing free service, but I was just amazed and angry that how come a 20K mile car needs new brakes, had to change bunch of parts in engine and it makes noises anytime. It is not that I bought an old car and I understand that an ultimate driving machine would need more maintenence/fixes then normal running car, but this is just insane. Its good that I bought this car new, if I would have got this car used, then I would have probably spend 5-6K or ever more to fix this car just in one year. I have driving Infiniti G35, Acura MDX, Acura 3.2TL before and none of the cars needed so much of work even though they were fun to drive.

I just came back from dealership after fixing rear breaks , and after a week its again making noise. Sometimes its embarassing to drive this car when someone is driving with you and it makes all kinds of noises. I believe car lovers buy luxury car as prestige as well, and when it makes noises like this its a shame. I was driving with someone and he asked me whether this car is new or I bought it old. When I showed him the no. of miles on the car, he was shocked, it was only 10K miles and it was making noise worse then my old old mazda 626. All in all I would advise people to stay away from German cars as they require lot of maintenence, instead stay with Japanese brands as they are atleast reliable and fun enough to drive them. I had leased G35 for 3 yrs and I didnt even visit dealership once. Car had absolutely no problem, after 45K miles on it , I didnt even had to change brakes or anything. It was cheaper to lease from BMW and had absolutely no hassle. I spoke to dealership about lemon laws and they keep going around bushes stating that its a high performance car and anytime you have problem bring it in. Even though there service is nice, but it irritates me that it breaks so often and I have to take my time out to go visit them, get a loaner, go back return the loaner. Next time , no ultimate-driving machine for me !!

Arturo of Guatemala, Guatemala September 24, 2009

In 2006 I bought a used 2001 BMW M5 with less than 10,000 kms. in as new condition with all services done by BMW. At 13,000 kms. (I only use it on weekends) in 2008, a small oil leak had me take the car to the BMW representative. Long story short, the engine was opened and 4 cylinders were scored and possible VANOS damage. BMW said the car needs a new engine and offered one at 30,000 (almost the value of the car at the time).

Note this is a car with 13,000 original kms. with all services donde by BMW. The original tires are still in good shape. I contacted the local representative and the regional representative in Panama. I also contacted BMW customer service in Germany, but got absolutely no help. I understand the car was out of warranty but this is clearly a factory defect, as no action by me or the previous owner (whom I know) should have ever caused the damage.

Linda of Crossville, TN September 22, 2009

I have e-mailed BMW 4 times about a recall on my 2002 BMW 325xi. The recall id# by the NHTSA is 02V088000. They have not responed to my request. I did not know about this until a few days ago as I was researching recalls on my other vehicles. I would like for anyone to get their attention, as I have not been able to do it.

Cheri of Anderson, SC September 21, 2009

tires bad the day I drove it off lot. was told dummy ligt comes on 21,000..miles.....took it back 12 times and 2 front tires bold was told it was bad tires. The tire sre not good when you order it....wanted me to get 4 new tires and pay for alinement. over 1,000.00. we went somewhere else..... front end could be going bad... BMW has good cars except the mini it's a want a be car....

Ravi of Suite 100, OH September 21, 2009

I have a 2003 BMW X5. We have had several problems with brakes. BMW X5 has trasmission problem the data is available in the internet. They have paid for the entire work even after the warranty period to several of their customers. BMW North America is not offering the same in my scenario.

After paying a premium money for the car we need to pay large sum for the repair. Transmission are guaranteed by other non premium car manufacturers for 100,000 miles. BMW is manufacturing a very inferior cars and not standing behind their product.

David of Dallas, TX September 21, 2009

Window regulators keep failing...especially front passenger side. after 3 failures in 7 months...frustrated. starting to believe there is a manufacturing defect here. Same piece keeps breaking.

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